System for storing and carrying a lulav and citron

ABSTRACT

One of the customs of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (also known as the Festival of Tabernacles) is the taking of the so-called “four species” (a palm branch, three willow branches, two branches of myrtle, and a citron). The palm branch, the willow branches and the myrtle branches are bound together into what is referred to herein as the “lulav.” Provided is a system for storing a set of the four species. The system includes a first case dimensioned to receive a lulav, a second case dimensioned to receive a citron, and one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit. The system may be free standing on a surface with the first case in an upright position when the first case and the second case are assembled into an integral unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cases for carrying objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Tabernacles, occurs each year in the early autumn. One of customs of the holiday is the taking of the so-called “four species”. The four species are a palm branch, three willow branches, two branches of myrtle, and a citron. The citron is often referred to by its Hebrew term, the “etrog”. The palm branch, the willow branches and the myrtle branches are bound together into what is referred to herein as the “lulav”. Thus, the lulav and the citron together form the four species.

During the Sukkot holiday, which is 7 days long in Israel, and 8 days long outside of Israel, it is necessary to carry the four species to and from the synagogue where the four species are used in various ceremonies associated with the holiday. It is also necessary to store the four species both at home as well as in the synagogue when the four species are not being used. Since the four species are fragile, it is necessary to protect the four species during transport and storage. Various types of cases are known for storing and carrying the lulav. Similarly, various cases are known for storing and carrying the citron. Placing the lulav and citron in cases protects the lulav and citron form damage, but requires two separate cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system for storing and carrying the four species. The system of the invention comprises a first case adapted to receive a lulav. The system of the invention also comprises a second case adapted to receive a citron. In accordance with the invention the two cases are configured to be reversibly assembled into an integral unit. In some embodiments, when the two cases are assembled into an integral unit, the system is free standing with the lulav in an upright orientation. In other embodiments, when the two cases are assembled into an integral unit, the system is free standing with the lulav in a horizontal position

Thus, in its first aspect, the present invention provides a system for storing a set of the four species, comprising:

(a) a first case dimensioned to receive a lulav;

(b) a second case dimensioned to receive a citron; and

(c) one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit.

In the system of the invention, the system may be free standing on a surface with the first case in an upright position when the first case and the second case are assembled into an integral unit. Alternatively, the system may be free standing on a surface with the first case in a horizontal position when the first case and the second case are assembled into an integral unit.

In the system of the invention, the first case may have an upper portion and a lower portion configured to be assembled together to enclose a generally elongated interior space dimensioned to receive a lulav. The first and second portions of the first case may snap fit together, or may screw to each other.

The system of the invention may further comprise a handle or carrying strap.

In the system of the invention, the one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit may comprise a bracket attached to the second case dimensioned to receive the first case. The bracket may be provided, for example, with one or more apertures and the first case may be provided with one or more spring biased pins extending from an outer surface of the first case, wherein the apertures on the bracket are positioned to mate with the spring biased pins on the first case to maintain the first case in the bracket.

As another example, in the system of the invention, the one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit may comprise a base provided with means for attaching the first case to the base and further provided with means for attaching the second case to the base. The base may have, for example, a dome shaped upper surface and a flat bottom surface. The base may be provided with a first recess configured to receive at least a portion of the first case and to maintain the first case attached to the base. The base may also be provided with a second recess configured to receive at least a portion of the second case and to maintain the second case attached to the base.

The first case may be provided with one or more protruding pins on an outer surface of the first case and a wall of the first recess is provided with one or more tracks, wherein the pins and tracks are configured to mate with each other to allow the first case to be retained in the first recess. The second case may be provided with one or more first magnetizable plates and a surface of the second recess may be provided with one or more second magnetizable plates, where in the first magnetizable plates are configured to mate with the second magnetizable plates to retain the second case in the second recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a system for holding and carrying the four species comprising a first case for holding a lulav and a second case for holding a citron, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the case for holding a citron of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the case for holding a lulav of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the system of FIG. 1 after assembly into an integral unit;

FIG. 5 shows a system for holding and carrying the four species comprising a first case for holding a lulav and a second case for holding a citron, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 a shows the case for holding a lulav of the system of FIG. 5 in an open configuration;

FIG. 6 b shows the case for holding a lulav of the system of FIG. 5 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 7 shows the case for holding a citron of the system of FIG. 5 in an open configuration; and

FIG. 8 shows the system of FIG. 5 after assembly into an integral unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a system 2 for storing and carrying the four species in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The system 2 comprises a first case 4 adapted to receive a lulav. The system 2 also comprises a second case 6 adapted to receive a citron. The first case 4 has a receptacle portion 8 enclosing a generally elongated interior space 10 dimensioned to receive a lulav. The first case also has a lid 12 that, in this embodiment, is hinged to the receptacle portion 8 and snaps closed onto the receptacle portion 8 after insertion of a lulav into the interior space 10. The second case 6 has a receptacle portion 14 enclosing an interior space 16 dimensioned to receive a citron. The second case 6 also has a lid that, in this embodiment, is hinged to the receptacle portion 14 and snaps fit onto the base portion 14 after insertion of citron to the interior space 16.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the second case 6. The rear side 20 of the second case is provided with a bracket 22 that is dimensioned to receive the first case, as described below. The bracket 22 has two side walls 24 a and 24 b and a back wall 27. The side wall 24 a is provided with an aperture 26 positioned and dimensioned to receive a spring biased pin 28 on a side of the first case, as described below. The side wall 24 b is provided with a similar aperture (not visible in the perspective of FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the bottom portion of the first case. The first case has side walls 30 a and 30 b. The side wall 30 a is provided with a spring biased pin 32 a extending from the side wall 3 a that is positioned and dimensioned to be received in the aperture 26 of the second case 6. The second side wall 30 b is provided with a similar spring biased pin 32 b (seen in FIG. 1, not seen in the perspective of FIG. 3) that is positioned and dimensioned to be received in the aperture in the side wall 24 b of the second case.

FIG. 4 shows the system 2 after assembly of the first and second cases. The first case 2 has been inserted into the bracket 27 of the second case. During insertion, the spring biased pins are depressed as the bottom end of the first case passes through the bracket 27 until the first case attains its final position in the bracket 27 in which the spring biased pins 32 a and 32 b are aligned with the apertures in the side walls 24 a and 24 b of the bracket 27 whereupon, the pins project outwards through the apertures. In this configuration, the bottom surface of the first case 2 is coplanar with the bottom surface of the second case and the first case is firmly held in the bracket 27. This allows the assembled system 2 to be free standing on a surface 34 such as a floor or table. The system 2 may be provided with a handle 36 that allows the system 2 to be carried with one hand. Additionally or alternatively, the system 2 may be provided with a carrying strap (not shown).

FIG. 5 shows a system 40 for storing and carrying the four species in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The system 40 comprises a first case 44 adapted to receive a lulav. The system 40 also comprises a second case 46 adapted to receive a citron. The second case 46 is shown in a closed configuration in FIG. 5. The second case has a dome shaped lid 47 that is hinged to a base 49 by means of a hinge 49. The first case 44 has an upper portion 48 and a lower portion 49. The upper and lower portions can be assembled together to enclose a generally elongated interior space 50 dimensioned to receive a lulav, as explained below. The upper portion 48 may be the same length as the lower portion 49, or may be a different length. For example, the length of the upper portion 48 may be three times the length of the lower portion 49. The system 40 further comprises a base 52. The base 52 has substantially dome shaped upper surface 51 and a substantially flat bottom surface 45. A first recess 54 in the base 52 is configured to receive and retain the lower portion 49 of the first case 44, as explained below. The recess 54 is rimmed by a rim 53 that extends above the upper surface 51 of the base 52. A second recess 56 in the base 52 is configured to receive and retain the second case 46.

FIG. 6 a shows the first case 44 after insertion of a lulav 58 into the interior space 50 of the lower portion 49 of the first case 44. After insertion of the lulav 58 into the interior space 50 of the lower portion 49, the upper portion 48 of the second case 44 is assembled onto the lower portion 49, as shown in FIG. 6 b, to completely enclose the lulav 58. The upper portion 48 has a lower rim 60 (FIG. 6 a) that mates with an upper rim 62 on the lower portion 49 to maintain the first case 44 in the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 3 b. The mating of the rims 60 and 62 may be based, for example, on a snap fit in which the rim 60 fits over the rim 62 and snaps into place, or by screwing the upper portion 48 to the lower portion 49.

FIG. 7 shows the second case 46 in an open configuration after insertion of a citron 64 into the base 49 of the second case. After insertion of the citron 64, the lid 47 can be closed onto the base 49 to bring the second case 46 to the closed configuration shown in FIG. 2. The lid 47 may snap fit onto the base 49 to maintain the second case in the closed configuration.

After insertion of the lulav 58 into the first case 44 and insertion of the citron 64 into the second case 46, the first and second cases are assembled onto the base 52 of the system 40, as shown in FIG. 8. The lower portion 49 of the first case 44 has a foot region 68, seen in FIGS. 5, 6 a and 6 b. The foot region 68 is configured to be received in the rim 53 and the recess 54 of the base 52. A pair of protruding pins 70 and 71 are positioned on the foot region 68 that fit into recessed tracks 73 and 75 that are formed in the inner wall of the rim 53 and the recess 54. The pins 70 and 71 are introduced into the tracks until the bottom of the foot region 68 is at the bottom of the recess 54, and then the first case is rotated about a quarter turn inside the recess 54, to retain the first case 44 in the recess 54. The second case 46 is maintained in the second recess 56 by means of two metallic plates 72 and 74 seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 which mate with a pair of magnets 76 and 78 at the bottom of the second recess 56.

After assembly of the first and second cases on the base 51, the assembled system 40 can stand on a flat surface 80, such as a table of floor, due to the flat surface 45 of the base 51. 

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A system for storing a set of the four species, comprising: (a) a first case, the first case being elongated and dimensioned to receive a lulav; (b) a second case dimensioned to receive a citron; and (c) one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit; wherein the integral unit includes a planar surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first case, the planar surface being below the first case and the second case when the first case is in an upright position.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system is configured to be free standing on a surface with the first case in an upright position when the first case and the second case are assembled into the integral unit.
 17. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a handle or carrying strap.
 18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit comprise a bracket attached to the second case dimensioned to receive the first case.
 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the bracket is provided with one or more apertures and the first case is provided with one or more spring biased pins extending from an outer surface of the first case, and wherein the apertures on the bracket are positioned to mate with the spring biased pins on the first case to maintain the first case in the bracket.
 20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more devices for reversibly assembling the first case and the second case into an integral unit comprises a base provided with means for attaching the first case to the base and further provided with means for attaching the second case to the base.
 21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the base has a dome shaped upper surface and a flat bottom surface.
 22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the first case has an upper portion and a lower portion configured to be assembled together to enclose a generally elongated interior space dimensioned to receive a lulav.
 23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the base is provided with a first recess configured to receive at least a portion of the first case and to maintain the first case attached to the base.
 24. The system according to claim 20, wherein the base is provided with a second recess configured to receive at least a portion of the second case and to maintain the second case attached to the base.
 24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first and second portions of the first case snap fit together.
 25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the first case is provided with one or more protruding pins on an outer surface of the first case and a wall of the first recess is provided with one or more tracks, wherein the pins and tracks are configured to mate with each other to allow the first case to be retained in the first recess.
 26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the second case is provided with one or more first magnetizable plates and a surface of the second recess is provided with one or more second magnetizable plates, and where in the first magnetizable plates are configured to mate with the second magnetizable plates to retain the second case in the second recess. 